Hand puppet



M. ENISON HAND PUPPET Aug. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1956 INVENTOR. MORTON ENISON M Amwzmsy 1957 M. ENISON v 2,801,495

HAND PUPPET Filed March 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MORTON ENISON HAND PUPPET Morton Enison, New York, N. Y.

Application March 20, 1956, Serial No. 572,750

2 Claims. (CL 46--154) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hand puppets.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved hand puppet having a movable lower jaw and a flexible hollow costume with a hand opening and finger operated arm sleeve and hands which puppet can easily and conveniently be operated by one hand in all puppet movements.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the puppet with a hand and finger gripping means disposed inside the costume and secured to the head so that the puppet can be firmly and securely held while the operable parts are being moved.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the puppet with lower jaw pivoting cable and finger ring disposed inside the hand and finger gripping means.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the puppet with a finger anchor ring and cable secured to the head and disposed inside the costume and pivotally securing the hand and finger gripping means to the head.

A further object of the invention proposes constructing the puppet with a resilient member normally to bias the hand and finger gripping means in a pivoted position.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel fea tures of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front view with parts broken away and in section of a hand puppet constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with parts broken away and in section and showing more of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the rod shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

The hand puppet in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Puppet has a hollow head 16 and a flexible hollow costume 17. Head 16 has a lower jaw member 18 which is pivotally mounted in the head on a pivot pin or rod 19. A resilient member or means 20 in the form of a rubber band extends from the roof 21 of the head inside the head to the top 22 of the lower jaw member 18 norhand and finger gripping mally to bias the lower jaw member in its closed position.

A hand and finger gripping rod 23 has an upper portion 24 which is pivotally secured to head 16 and extends nited States Patent 0 across the lower portion or neck 25 of the head inside the head, being trunnioned in bearings 26 and 27. The remainder of the rod 23 is disposed inside the costume 17, the costume 17 being secured to the neck or lower portion 25 of the head 16. The upper portion 24 of rod 23 is spaced behind the pivot pin or rod 19. and a cable 28 has one end 29 secured to the bottom of the lower jaw member 18 and extends around and bears against the upper end or portion 24 of rod 23 hanging down into the costume 17 inside the costume.

A pull ring 30 is secured to the other end 31 of the cable 28 so that the lower jaw member can be pivoted to open position by pulling down on the pull ring 30'. The pull ring 30 is disposed inside the hand and finger gripping rod 23.

Secured to the head 16 at the back of the head is a resilient member or band 32 which is connected with the hand and finger gripping rod 23 normally to bias the rod 23 in a rearwardly pivoted position.

An anchor ring 33 is secured at one end 34 of an anchor cable 35 which is secured at its other end 36 to the front lower portion of the head 16. The hand and finger gripping rod 23 is twisted or otherwise formed as shown so as to provide both palm and finger grips.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is characterized by the provision of a puppet 40 having a hollow head 41 with a movable lower jaw member 42 pivotally mounted in the head and a hollow costume 43. A pull ring 44 is secured to a cable 45 which is connected with the movable lower jaw member 42 to pivot the member 42. A hand and finger gripping rod 46 has an upper circular portion 47 frictionally and removably to fit over the neck 48 of the head 41 to secure the rod 46 to the head and disposed inside the costume.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is characterized by the provision of a puppet 50 having a hollow head 51 with a movable jaw member 52 pivotally mounted in the head and a hollow costume 53 secured to the head. A hand and finger gripping rod 54 is removably secured to the head 51 by a bolt or screw 55 and is disposed inside the hollow costume. A pull ring 56 hangs from a cable 57 connected with the movable jaw member 52 to pivot it. The pull ring 56 is disposed inside the bent or twisted hand and finger gripping rod 54.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A hand puppet comprising a hollow head with a lower jaw member pivotally mounted therein, a hollow costume attached to the head and having a hand opening, resilient means to bias the lower jaw member in a closed position, manually actuated jaw pivoting means dependent from the lower jaw member to move the lower jaw member to an open position, and hand and finger gripping means connected with the head and disposed inside the hollow costume, said jaw pivoting means being a cable and a manual pull ring, said cable having one end secured to the lower jaw member and one end disposed inside the hollow costume, said ring being secured to the end of the cable disposed inside the hollow costume and inside the hand and finger gripping means, said hand and finger gripping means being a rod having an upper end pivotally connected to the head and extending across the lower portion of the head inside the head, said cable extending around and bearing against the upper end of said rod,

Patented Aug. 6, 1957 and a resilient member secured to the head and to the rod normally to hold the rod in a pivoted position.

2. A hand puppet comprising a hollow head with a lower jaw member pivotally mounted therein, a hollow costume attached to the head and having a hand opening, resilient means to bias'the lower jaw member in a closed position, manually actuated jaw pivoting means dependent from the lower jaw member to move the lower jaw membet to an openposition, hand and finger gripping means connected with the head and disposed inside the hollow costume, said jaw pivoting means being a cable and a manual pull ring, said cable having one end secured to the lower jaw member and one end disposed inside the hollow costume, said'ring being secured to the end of the cable disposed inside the hollow costume and inside the hand and fingerv gripping means, said hand and finger gripping means being a rod having an upper end pivotally "connected to the head and extending across the lower portion of the head inside the head, said cable extending around and bearing against the upper end of said rod, and a resilient member secured to the head and to the rod normally to hold the rod in a pivoted position, and an anchor cable with an anchor finger ring at one end having another end secured to the head, said anchor finger ring being disposed inside the hollow costume.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,711 Dondo Aug. 24, 1920 1,410,408 Mack Mar. 21, 1922 2,771,708 Enison Nov. 27, 1956 

